St. Pete-Clearwater Sun

Scientists from the Southwest Florida Water Management District have completed the first seagrass survey of Boca Ciega Bay since the 2024 hurricanes, finding the underwater grass beds in that part of southern Pinellas County are in excellent shape — and the data could be used to help restore seagrass elsewhere in the bay system.

Seagrass provides habitat for up to 75% of the region’s recreationally and commercially important fish species and serves as a key indicator of overall water quality. Scientists describe it as the estuary’s equivalent of a blood pressure reading.

Chris Anastasiou, the district’s head water scientist, said conditions in Boca Ciega Bay and Lower Tampa Bay are the best they’ve been since mapping began in the 1980s. “Both of these areas have experienced a significant gain in seagrass over the last few years. In fact, we’re at record levels of seagrass since we started mapping in the 80s,” he said.

One contributing factor is the ongoing drought. While harmful to land vegetation, the reduced freshwater runoff has raised salinity levels in the bay — conditions that seagrass needs to thrive.

A study from two years ago showed Tampa Bay had gained more than 1,000 acres of seagrass overall. But not all parts of the bay are faring as well. Anastasiou noted that Old Tampa Bay continues to struggle with seagrass loss, due in part to algae blooms and reduced water flow caused by bridge infrastructure.

“We’ve seen seagrass loss there, and it is an area that we’re working closely with our partners like the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to come up with some potential solutions,” he said. Those solutions are expected to focus on reducing the flow of pollution and excess nutrients into the water.

Scientists will now use the new field data to produce updated maps that could guide restoration efforts in areas of the bay where seagrass beds are less healthy.

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